Why Do You Need a Heat Pump For House Heating System?

Air-water heat pumps use the energy of ambient air to produce cost-effective and sustainable heat.

The working principle of a heat pump is often compared with that of a refrigerator. However, heat energy is not transferred from the inside to the outside, but rather energy from the environment into the interior of the house. Depending on the type of heat pump, the ambient air, the soil, or the groundwater are used as the energy source. Ultra-modern heat pumps use around 75% environmental energy and 25% electricity to generate one-kilowatt hour of heat.

To be specific, the working principle of heat pumps is divided into four steps, which can easily be followed along the “journey” of the refrigerant. The process of heat generation can be understood as a kind of cycle that is greatly simple.

• Evaporation: In the first step, the energy absorbed from the environment is fed into the evaporator, where it evaporates refrigerant in a liquid state. This also works at low outside temperatures.
• Compression: The refrigerant in the gaseous state is then fed into the compressor from the evaporator. The refrigerant’s vapor is compressed, causing its temperature to rise gradually.
• Transfer: In the third step, the energy of the refrigerant’s vapor is transferred to the house’s heating system via the heat exchanger the system can be used for space heating or sanitary hot water currently. The refrigerant relaxes and liquefies again.
• Relaxation: In the last step, the refrigerant flows back to the evaporator via an expansion valve, where it expands and cools down again. And the cycle can begin again and again.

As an air-water heat pump works with air heat, the question arises as to how it can heat with cold air in winter. Refrigerants used in heat pumps have a boiling point of -10 to -15 degrees. This is why refrigerants evaporate even at sub-zero temperatures and make the operation possible in winter without any problems. Some models also work reliably at temperatures of -20 degrees or less. However, the heating output decreases at low temperatures.

In addition, air-to-water heat pumps usually have an auxiliary heating element that can be switched on at low temperatures or when additional power is required. However, this should only be an exception. The heat pump’s power increases significantly when operated with a heating element.

In Germany, the amendment to the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG) has been in force since the beginning of this year, which regulates the funding support of heat pumps and other climate-friendly heating systems. The new funding consists of basic funding, a speed bonus, an efficiency bonus and an income-related bonus. Depending on the type of heating, the time of replacement and household income, the funding can add up to 85% of the purchase costs. However, the funding rate is limited to a maximum of 70% and the maximum eligible amount is €30,000.